Bloemfontein - Free State Stars defeated Lamontville Golden Arrows 3-1 at Goble Park on Saturday to eliminate them from the Telkom Knockout.
 
Katlego Mashego, Moeketsi Mvula and Luyolo Nomandela netted for the home side, while Arrows replied through a strike from Bongi Ntuli.
 
Arrows should have taken the lead in the 14th minute when Thamsanqa Gabuza made a good run to connect with a cross from Siyanda Zwane, but somehow he directed his header wide of the post with no defender in sight.
 
Three minutes later Mzivukile Tom collected a loose ball inside the penalty area, but the fullback could only watch in agony as his ball was cleared off the line by a defender.
 
Stars took the lead in the 30th minute as Mashego volleyed home from close range, connecting with a pinpoint cross from Noah Chivuta.
 
The hosts extended their advantage eleven minutes later when Mvula reacted the quickest to tuck the ball under Pavels Steinbors, after the
Arrows goalkeeper had failed to hold on to the initial shot.
 
Then two minutes into the second half Bongi Ntuli silenced the crowd at Goble Park as he based eventually managed to get one past Kennedy Mweene from close range.
 
However, Luyolo Nomandela got the home fans back on their feet two minutes later as he buried his first time shot past Steinbors.
 
Arrows would have another great chance to force a comeback in the 77th minute when substitute Mxolisi Macuphu found himself in the clear with only the goalkeeper to beat, only to drill his shot wide of the upright.